By Tabitha Evans Moore
Editor & Publisher

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — A structural bridge assessment submitted to Metro Moore County regarding safety concerns about the bridge at the Retreat at Whiskey Creek development located on Main Street was signed and issued by an engineer who is not a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Tennessee — and who acknowledged in writing fifteen years ago that his engineering intern certification did not authorize him to practice engineering, according to his original application for engineer certification provided by the state.

The bridge has been at the center of a dispute between developer Chip Hayes and Moore County officials over construction and emergency vehicle access to the Whiskey Creek tiny home development. The letter was submitted to Metro Moore County Mayor Sloan Stewart after the county’s insurance carrier raised concerns about whether larger vehicles including fire trucks would be covered under Moore County’s existing policy.

The assessment, produced by Kassam Ahmed Kimera Bhegani of Bhegani Engineering, LLC of Franklin, Tennessee, concluded that the private-access bridge at 975 Main Street in Lynchburg was structurally sound, code-compliant, and capable of supporting construction equipment and emergency vehicles including fire trucks and ambulances.

Public records obtained by The Lynchburg Times from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance show that Bhegani holds an Engineer Intern (EI) certification — number 29237 — issued May 16, 2011, after passing the Engineer Intern Examination on April 9 of that year. His own signed application for that certification states explicitly: “I understand that an engineer intern certificate, if granted, will not authorize me to practice engineering or make public use of the title ‘engineer.'”

Bhegani signed that acknowledgment on the application. The state has not issued him a Professional Engineer (PE) license.

STATE OPENS COMPLAINT AGAINST BHEGANI

On June 9, 2026, the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners opened complaint number 202603950 against Bhegani for unlicensed activity. The complainant is the state board itself. Documents attached to the complaint include the Whiskey Creek bridge assessment and project photographs. The complaint is active and according to Department of Commerce and Insurance will be heard in August 2026.

Bhegani operates Bhegani Engineering, LLC, marketing the firm under the tagline “The People’s Engineers.” He signed the Whiskey Creek bridge assessment as “President / Engineering Manager.”

The bridge assessment has been cited in public debate as evidence that the bridge at 975 Main Street could safely support construction equipment, fire trucks, and ambulances. County officials, the county’s insurance carrier, and the public were relying on that conclusion in ongoing deliberations about development access at Whiskey Creek.

The Times reached out to Mr. Bhegani via phone and email on June 11 to determine whether or not he performed the Whiskey Creek work under the supervision of a Profession Engineer as is required. He did not respond as of the publication of this article.

The Times contacted developer Chip Hayes by phone and email on June 11 for comment on whether he was aware of Bhegani’s licensing status when the assessment was submitted. Mr. Hayes did not respond as of publication.

The Times also reached out to Mayor Stewart for a comment on how this new information could affect Metro’s insurance carrier’s decision. He tells us that Metro’s insurance company had already raised red flags about the engineering letter and will likely require a new study in order to make a decision on the bridge’s overall safety and load-bearing ability.  •

ABOUT THE LYNCHBURG TIMES INVESTIGATES: The Lynchburg Times Investigates exists because small towns deserve the same standard of accountability journalism as anywhere else. These stories are built from public records, original documents, and on-the-record sources. Small town. Real journalism. Tips welcome at editor@thelynchburgtimes.com.